A N Z A C stands for

Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

During World War I in 1915, the New Zealand and Australian soldiers landed just before dawn, in Turkey on the Gallipoli Peninsular.

Turkey controlled a main route into Eastern Europe and the Allied Forces (including the ANZACs) agreed the only way to control this route was to attack Turkey and take control.

Unfortunately, the Turkish Army controlled the hills and the Allied Forces were left unprotected on the beaches.

Many of the New Zealand and Australian soldiers were killed in this battle which lasted several months.

Every year on the 25th April there is a dawn parade to remember those who fought and died in all wars.

The Hastings Dawn parade finishes at the Cenotaph in the centre of town.

The Cenotaph is a memorial monument that was erected to honour those who died inThe Great War – World War I.

This is the plaque that is on the Centotaph.

Last year I went with my Nanna to the ANZAC service.

I was able to wear my great-grandfather’s dress medals and my Nanna wore his real service medals.

We have to wear the medals on the right hand side but the service men and women who received them, wore them on the left hand side closest to their heart.

The poppy stands for those who gave their lives during war, the Last Post is a final salute to those who died and the Lest We Forget poem is a reminder to us all, that they died so that we might be free.

The Poppy, the Last Post and the Lest We Forget poem are all symbols of ANZAC day.